Holmes was promptly shipped to the Jets for a paltry fifth-round draft pick due to a litany of off-the-field issues. His reputation took an even bigger blow during a disappointing, injury-plagued stint in New York.

For those reasons, it's hard to imagine the Steelers being amenable to a reunion.

Harrison is in the proverbial best shape of his life and "looks like the Hulk," per Taylor. The roadblock to his return is a youth movement in which 2013 first-round pick Jarvis Jones is fully expected to join the starting lineup, bookending Jason Worilds.

As much as Holmes and Harrison want to return, the Steelers have moved on. It might take a training-camp injury for their phones to start ringing.